We use JavaScript to display content and to speed up the loading of TechNutty, without it you may find that some of the site does not respond properly, please consider enabling it or switching browsers.

The European Commission are holding talks with Apple & Google over in-app purchases

The European Commission are holding talks with Apple & Google over in-app purchases

The European Commission are beginning to hold talks with Google, Apple and others in the industry on Thursday and Friday in order to sort out the rules for in-app purchases. This comes after many reports have been made that state children are making in-app purchases without permission from their parents.

“Misleading consumers is clearly the wrong business model and also goes against the spirit of EU rules on consumer protection,” said the EU’s justice commissioner, Viviane Reding, reports Reuters.

This report also follows the US Federal Trade Commission’s decision to fine Apple $32.5 million, payable to the customers in an FTC settlement in January 2014, this sum might seem like a lot of money, but the FTC did quote one example where a child spent $2,600 in the app Tap Pet Hotel using in-app purchases.

“Consumers, and in particular children, need better protection against unexpected costs from in-app purchases,” said Neven Mimica, the European commissioner for consumer policy.

It’s not clear if the European Commission will also be fining the companies at any point, but it is clear that they need to come up with some rules to stop this happening in the future.